Electric control apparatus



April 19, 1932. T. F. BLUDWORTH 1,854,683

ELECT RIC CONTROL APPARATUS 7 Filed Dec. 27, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR TfiB/udworfh.

ATTORNEY April 19, 1932,

T. F. BLU DWORTH ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 27, 1928 INVENTOR 77. B/udwor/h.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES TIMOTHY F. BLUDWORTH, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS Application filed December 27, 1928.

My invention relates to a system for controlling apparatus, preferably from a remote station, and it has for an object to provide means for starting and stopping the apparatus, and for regulating the operation of the apparatus after it has been started.

A specific object of my invention is to pro- Vide means for alternative control of a radio receiver and a talking machine. The receiver and talking machine may be separate and distinct units each supplied with its own amplifier or loud-speaker, or, preferably, a single loud-speaker is provided which is common to the two apparatus. In either case my invention provides means at a station remote from said apparatus for switching from radio reception to talking machine reproduction and is vice versa, and thereafter varying at will the amplitude or volume of the sound reproduced.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system for alternative talking machine and radio control in which the transfer from radio to talking machine, and vice versa, will be effected when the sound reproduced is at its lowest volume or has been reduced to zero.

Vith these and other objects in view, which will appear hereinafter, I shall now describe a preferred form of apparatus in the embodiment of my invention, and will thereafter point out the novelty and scope of the invention in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved remote control apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a change-over switch in normal open position, as viewed from the left hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same, as viewed from the right hand end of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a volume control panel;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the same partly broken away;

Figs. 6 and 7 are side elevations of a limit switch shown in opposite extreme positions respectively.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the change-over switch, illustrating by full and broken lines,

Serial No. 328,808.

respectively, two closed positions of the switch; and

Fig. 9 is a diagram of electrical connections illustrating the manner in which my invention may be employed to control a talking machine and radio receiving apparatus.

My improved remote control apparatus is mounted on a base-board 10 (see Fig. 1). It includes, in general, a motor A, a volume control mechanism B, a limit switch C for limiting the operation of the volume control mechanism, and a change-over switch D for changing from talking machine to a radio receiver and vice versa.

The motor A is of reversible type and may '65 be either an A. C. or a D. C. motor. In the diagram, Fig. 9, the motor is shown as of A. C. type.

The motor shaft 12is connected by coupling 13 to a stub shaft 14 journaled in a bracket 15. The shaft 14 is formed with, or has secured thereon the element 16, which is adapted to drive a worm wheel 17. The worm Wheel is fixed upon a shaft 18 which is journaled at one end in the bracket 15 and at the opposite end in a bracket 19 secured to the base-board. A worm 20 fixed upon the shaft 18 drives a worm wheel 21 secured upon a shaft 22. The latter is journaled at one end in the bracket 19 and adjacent the other end in a bracket 23. The shaft 22 passes through a panel 24 on which is mounted the volume control apparatus. Fixed upon the shaft 22 adjacent the panel is a driving pinion 25 which meshes with an upper pinion 26 secured upon a pin 27, and with a pair of lower pinions 28 secured upon pins 29. The pin 27 passes through the panel 24C and carries the movable element or switch arm 80' of a potentiometer 30. The pins 29 also pass through the panel 24c and have secured thereto switch arms 31 of a pair of rheostats 32, the latter being connected to form an attenuator.

Secured upon the end of the shaft 22 adjacent to bracket 23 is a crank arm 85 which carries a crank pin 36. The latter is adapted to operate the limit switch C. The limit switch comprises a block of insulating material 38 which is pivoted at 39 on a bracket 40. Projecting from the block 38 are a pair of fingers 41 which are so spaced with relation to the crank pin 36 as to mesh therewith in the manner of a Geneva drive, so that by rotating the shaft in one direction or the other the pin will cause the switch to oscillate about its fulcrum 39, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 Fastened to the upper edge of the block 38 is a set of spring contact leaves 42 which are normally engaged by a spring contact finger 43. Similarly fastened to the lower e ge of the switch block 38 is a set of spring contact leaves 45 which are normally engaged by a spring contact finger 46.

Mounted on the bracket 40 is the changeover switch D, this switch may be a standard double-throw type eight-contact switch. It consists of a U shaped frame 50 supporting a block of insulating material 51 between the free ends of the frame and in this block 51 are mounted eight spring fingers, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59. Between the fingers 52 and 53 there is a spring switch arm 60 and between the spring fingers 54 and 55 there is a spring switch arm 61; similarly, between the fingers 56 and 57 is a spring switch arm 62,

and between the spring fingers 58 and 59 a spring switch arm 63.

The change-over switch is operated by a toggle lever 64 which is fulcrumed at 65 in the U shaped frame 50. The inner end of the toggle lever bears two rollers 66 and 67 (as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1) for operating the spring switch arms in the usual manner. The outer end of the toggle lever carries a head 68 formed with a slot 69. Engaging the slot 69 is a pin 70 carried by the block 38 of the limit switch C. Thus, starting from normal position, when the motor operates in one direction, it will not only turn the switch arms of the potentiometer and attenuator, but by engagement of the crank pin 36, engaging the arms 41 of the limit switch, will oscillate the limit switch in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor, and oscillation of the switch C will result in throwing the toggle lever 64 from its normal position shown in Fig. 2, either to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 8 or'that shown by broken lines in Fig. 8. The parts will remain in set position owing to frictional engagement of the toggle lever with the switch arms and by frictional engagement of the block 38 with the pivot pin 39. The motor may continue to rotate, operating the volume control mechanism until the pin 36 has completed a full turn, when it will engage either the spring leaves 42 or the spring leaves 45, depending upon the direction of rotation, and will thus break a circuit through the limit switch, as will be explained in further detail hereinafter. Fig. 6 illustrates the position of the parts when the circuit is broken between the leaves 45 and contact finger 46, while Fig. 7

diagrammatically how my control apparatus may be used for starting either a talking machine or a radio receiving apparatus and for thereafter controlling the volume of sound reproduced by either apparatus. As illustrated, the motor A is of single phase commutator type, provided with opposed field Windings, and is fed from the secondary of a transformer 75, the primary of which is connected to a suitable source of current. A line 176 leads from one terminal of the secondary of the transformer to a brush 77 hearing on the commutator of the motor A. The other terminal of the transformer is connected by a lead 78 through a switch 79 to the spring leaves 42 of the limit switch and a parallel lead 80 runs through a switch 81 to the spring leaves 45 of the limit switch. The contact finger 43 is connected to a field winding 82 of the motor A and thence is connected to a brush 84 opposed to the brush 77 on the commutator. The contact finger 46 runs to a reverse field winding 85 of the motor A and thence to the brush 84. The parts are so arranged that when the switch 81 is closed the motor A will turn clockwise and when the switch 79 is closed the motor will turn counter-clockwise. These switches are preferably of push button type and normally stand open.

' Assuming that the limit switch is in nor- 1 mal position with the fingers 41 lying horizontal and embracing the pin 36, when the push button 81 is depressed the motor will rotate clockwise, causing the limit switch to turn to the position shown in Fig. 6. In this position the limit switch will remain and the motor will continue to run clockwise as long as the button 81 is depressed, until the pin 36 is turned through an angle of approximately 360, when it will strike the spring leaves 45 and withdraw them from contact with the finger 46, thus breaking the circuit through the motor. The motor may then be reversed by pressing the button switch 79. The finger 36 will then travel in counter-clockwise direction as long as the button 79 is depressed until the pin has turned through an angle of approximately 360, when it will enter between the fingers 41 and move the limit switch C to normal horizontal position. If the switch 79 is still held closed, the motor will. continue to run in counter-clockwise direction turning the limit switch C to the position shown in Fig. 7, continued revolution of the pin 36 will bring it finally into engagement with spring leaves 42, when the motor will be stopped by breaking of the contact between the button 44 and the spring finger 42.

When the limit switch is turned in the position shown in Fig. 6, switch arms 60 and 62 are raised by the rollers 66 and 67, making contact with the spring fingers 52 and 56 respectively, and the switch arm 61 and 63 are permitted to make contact with the fingers 54 and 58. vVhenthe limit switch is in position shown in Fig. 7, the switch arms are turned in the opposite direction as shown by broken lines in Fig. 8, and contact respectively with the fingers 53, 55, 57 and 59. The finger 52 is connected by a line 86 to the plate of the detector tube of the radio receiving apparatus and the finger 53 is connected by a line 87 to one end of a winding 88 of the attenuator. The attenuator comprises two windings 88 and 89 connected in series and the opposite end of the winding 89 is connected by a lead 90 through a talking ma chine pickup 91 and scratch filter 92 to the Also aline 93 runs from the midpoint between the winding 88 and 89 directly to the finger 55. The switch arms 81 and 31 of the attenuator are electrically connected by a line 9-1. The finger 5 1 is connected by a line 95 to the B battery 96 of the radio receiving set and thence a wire 97 leads to one end of the potentiometer winding 30. The switch arm 30 of the potentiometer is connected by a lead 100 into the plate circuit of the *radio receiving apparatus, while the other end of the potentiometer winding is connected by a lead 101 to the negative side of the B battery 96. The switch arm 60 is connected by a lead 102 to one terminal or the primary coil of the amplifier in put. transformer 103, the opposite terminal being connected by a lead 104 to the switch arm 61. Secondary winding of transformer 103 is connected to an amplifier AMP which in turn is connected toa loud speaker LS.

The contacts controlled by the switch arm 62 may be left idle or may be connected as here shown to operate either a turn table motor of a talking machine or a lamp circuit. To this end the arm 62 is connected to one pole of a battery 106, while the finger 56 is connected by a line 107 to the other pole. The line 107 feeds a plurality of lamps 107a. The line 108 is also connected to one terminal of a motor 109, the other terminal of which is connected to the finger 57.

The finger 58 is connected by a wire 110 through a relay 111, and by way of the wire 112 to the secondary of the transformer 7 5, and similarly the switch finger 59 is connected by a wire 113 to a relay 114 and thence to the wire 112. The relay 111 is adapted to control the A power input of the radio receiving set and a lamp 115 is bridged across the relay 111' so as to indicate when the relay in in circuit. The relay 114 on the other hand may control the operation of the turntable motor of the talking machine and similarly is provided with a lamp 116 bridged thereacross.

The operation of the apparatus is. as follows:

it will be assumed that the parts are in normal position with the button switches 7 9 and 81 open, and the limit switch in the horizontal position indicated in Fig. 2. If the operator desires to turn on the radio appara tus he depresses the button switch 81 thereby closing the circuit from the transformer 7 5 through the fingers 16 and 415 of the limit switch, energizing the winding 85 and causing the motor to turn clockwise. The motor rotates the shaft 22 through the reduction gearing described above and revolves the crank pin 85 thereby causing the limit switch to oscillate to the position shown in Fig. 6, and at the same time causing the toggle lever 64 to swing to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 8. As a result the change-over switch arms 60, 61, 62 and 63 will move upward making contact with fingers 52, 54, 56 and 58 respectively. As soon as contact is made between switch arm 63 and finger 58 the relay 111 will be operated to throw power on the radio receiving apparatus and the light 115 will indicate that the radio receiving apparatus has been turned on. Closing the contact through finger 52 will energize the plate circuit of the detector of the radio set and the making of contact between switch arm 61 and finger 51 will complete the amplifier output circuit. The attenuator remains inactive but the potentiometer will be cut in, and hence as the shaft 22 continues to rotate as long as the button switch is held down, the potentiometer arm 80 will be swung over the windings 90, thereby gradually increasing the volume of the output of the radio receiving set. The operator may hold his finger on the button 81 until he has procured the desired volume of sound and then on releasing the button said volume will be maintained. At any time, he may reduce the volume of sound by closing the contact 79 which will reverse the direction of rotation of the motor and hence cause the potentiometer to move in such direction as to weaken the amplitude of the radio reception.

As explained above, if the operator holds his finger on the bot-ton 81 indefinitely, the motor will continue to rotate until its circuit is broken by the limit switch and this occurs when the potentiometer has reduced to a minimum the volume of sound produced by the radio receiving apparatus.

If the operator desires to change from a radio program to a talking machine program, he presses the button 79 and holds it depressed until the motor has carried the pin 86 around through such an angle that it will enter the fingers ll and carry the limit switch o the position shown in Fig. 7. Before moving from the position of Fig. 6 to normal position the volume of sound will be reduced to a minimum by the operation of the potentiometer and when the limit switch rotates to a normal horizontal position, the circuits of the radio receiving apparatus will be broken. Thereafter further movement of the pin 36 will carry the limit switch to the position shown in Fig. 7 which will close a circuit from the relay 11%, starting the turn table of the talking machine and at the same time moving the switch arm 60 and 61 to the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 8. The attenuator will thus be connected to the talking machine pick-up, with the result that the volume of sound produced by the talking machine program may be varied at will by manipulating the push buttons 79 and 81 to vary the position of the attenuator switch arm 31. In the meantime the potentiometer arm 30 will move idly because the radio set has been cut off.

It will be understood that the push buttons 79 and 81 may be located at any point desired, and hence provide means for controlling and regulating either the talking machine or the radio receiver from a remote station.

lVhile I have described my control apparatus as applied to the alternative control of a talking machine and a radio receiving set I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to such application but may use my controller for starting, stopping and regulating a plurality of difierent apparatus from a remote station. Instead of using a potentiometer and attenuator, I may use a variable condenser, or any other instrument for varying the characteristic of an electric circuit, and hence in the appended claims I use the term variator to include all such instruments. Furthermore, my invention is not limited to the specific construction illustrated, but includes such variations, modifications and arrangements of parts as fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a control apparatus of the character described, a pair of variators, a common drive shaft therefor, a reversible motor for operatin the shaft, said motor having two opposed operating circuits, a manual operable switch in each of said circuits, a changeover switch adapted in one position to connect one of the variators with an outside circuit and in the other position to connect the other variator with another outside circuit, a Geneva drive connecting the shaft with the change-over switch and operating on initial movement from normal position to throw said switch in the direction of rotation of the shaft, a limit switch in each of said motor circuits, said limit switches being controlled by the Geneva drive to break the circuit of the motor when either variator has reached a predetermined limit of operation.

2. In a control apparatus of the character described, a drive shaft, a crank pin carried thereby, a body mounted to oscillate a pair of fingers carried by the body, the said fingers projecting into the path of the pin and normally embracing said pin, a pair of normally closed switches carried by the body at opposite sides of the fingers and so disposed that one of the switches will be opened by the pin when the latter has moved a predetermined distance in one direction from normal and the other will be opened by the pin when the latter has moved a predetermined distance in the opposite direction from normal position, and independent switch means controlled by the oscillation of said body.

3. In combination, a pair of independent electric circuits, an instrument in each circuit for varying the electrical characteristics thereof, an operating shaft common to both of said instruments, a reversible motor for driving said shaft, means for controlling the direction of rotation of the motor, a changeover switch operable in one direction to close one of the circuits and in the other to close the other of the circuits, a crank carried by the shaft and adapted during part of its orbital movement to throw said switch, and a pair of limit switches operable respectively by the crank at predetermined opposite limits of the orbital movement of the crank to deenergize the motor.

4:. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electrical phonograph device, an amplifier common to said radio and phonograph devices, means directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting either one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other, means at said remote point actuated at the time of any connection for indicating which of said devices is connected to said amplifier, and a sound regenerating device electrically connected to said amplifier.

5. In a system for the reproduction of radio and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electrical phonograph device, an amplifier common to said radio and phonograph devices, combined switching and volume control means for said devices directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other, and a sound regenerating device electrically connected to said. amplifier.

6. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device including current consuming elements, an electrical phonograph device including a turn table otor, an amplifier common to said radio an phonograph devices, a reversible motor, directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting at will either one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other, a source of current, contacts closed by said motor for connecting said source of current to the phonograph device when it is selected, and a sound regenerating device electrically connected to said amplifier.

7 In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, radi receiving device, electric phonograph device, an amplifier common to said radio and phonograph devices, a sound regenerating device electrically connected to said amplifier for translating signal currents amplified therein, switching means directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting at will either one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other, and means controlled in common with said switching means for reducing the sound developed by said regenerating device to a relatively low volume at the changeover from one device to the other.

8. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electric phonograph device, an amplifier common to said radio and phonograph devices, switching means directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting either one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other, means also controlled from said remote point for regulating the operation of the connected device, and. a sound regenerating device electrically connected to said amplifier.

9. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electrical phonograph device, an amplifier common to said radio and said phonograph devices, means directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting either one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other, means including lamps at said remote point one'of which is lighted in re sponse to each connection for indicating which of said devices is connected to said amplifier, and a sound regenerating device electrically connected to said amplifier.

10. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device and an electrical phonograph device, an amplifier common to said radio and said phonograph devices, a sound regenerating device electrically connected to said amplifier, volume control mechanism for controlling the volume of sound produced by said sound regenerating device, controlling means for rendering said radio receiver operative for the reception of programs to the exclusion of said phonograph device, and a single motor for actuating said volume control mechanism and said control means.

11. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a

radio receiving device, and an electrical phonograph device, an amplifier common to said radio and said phonograph devices, a sound regenerating device electrically connected to said amplifier, switch mechanism for connecting at will either one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other, reversible rotary alternating current motor for actuating said switching means, and circuits controlled by manual switches at a remote point for determining the direction of operation of said motor.

12. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electrical phonograph device including a turn-table motor, an amplifier common to said radio and said phonog ph devices, electrically operated switching means directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting at will one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other, said switching means serving to set into operation said turntable motor when said phonograph device is connected to said amplifier.

13. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electrical phonograph device including an electrical turntable motor, an amplifier common to said radio and said phonograph devices, means directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting either one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other, said means serving to complete a circuit for said turn-table motor when said phonograph is connected to said amplifier, and means at said remote point for indicating which of said devices is connected to said amplifier.

14:. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device and an electrical phonograph device including a turn-table motor, an amplifier common to said radio and said phonograph devices, switching means for electrically connecting either one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other and for setting in operation said turn-table motor when said amplifier is connected to said phonograph device, and a reversible motor directively controlled from a remote point for selectively actuating said switching means.

15. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electric phonograph device, a sound regenerating means electrically connectible to either of said devices for translating signal currents present therein, switching means directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting at will either one of said devices to said sound regenerating means to the ex clusion of the other, and means controlled in common with said switching means for reducing the sound developed by said regenerating device to a point that it is not objectionable at the change-over from one device to the other.

16. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electric phonograph device, sound regenerating means common to said radio and phonograph devices. switching means directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting either one of said devices to said sound regenerating means to the exclusion of the other, and means controlled from said remote point for regulating the operation of the connected device.

17. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electrical phonograph device, sound regenerating means common to said radio and phonograph devices, combined switching and volume control means directively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting one of said devices to said sound regenerating means to the exclusion of the other.

18. I11 a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electrical phonograph device, a loud speaker connectible to either of said devices, volume control mechanism for controlling the volume of sound produced by said loud speaker, controlling means for rendering said radio receiver operative for the reception of programs to the exclusion of said phonograph device, and a single motor for actuating said volume control mechanism and said control means.

19. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electrical phonograph device, sound regenerating means electrically connectible to either of said devices, switching means for electrically connecting at will one of said devices to said sound regenerating means to the exclusion of the other, a reversible rotary motor controlled from a remote point for actuating said switching means, and means for limiting the length of the path of rotation of said motor in either direction.

20. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electrical phonograph device, an amplifier common to said radio and said phonograph devices, a sound regenerating device electnically connected to said amplifier, switching means for electrically connecting at will one of said devices to said amplifier to the exclusion of the other, a reversible rotary motor controlled from a remote point for actuating said switching means, and means for limiting the length of the path of rotation of said motor in either direction.

21. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device, an electrical phonograph device, sound regenerating means electrically connectible to either of said devices, switching means for electrically connecting at will one of said devices to said sound regenerating means to the exclusion of the other, a reversible rotary motor controlled from a remote point for actuating said switching device, and means for limiting the arc of rotation of said motor to a path of predetermined length, said means comprising elements effective when the motor reaches each end of its predetermined path for stopping the operation of said motor.

22. In a system for the reproduction of radio programs and phonograph records, a radio receiving device and an electrical phonograph device, a loud speaker commonto said radio and said phonograph devices, means dlrectively controlled from a remote point for electrically connecting either one of said devices to said loud speaker to the exclusion of the other, a lamp at said remote point individual to each device, and means responsive to the connection of one of said devices to said regenerating means for lightingthe individual lamp of said device.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

TIMOTHY F. BLUDWORTH. 

